Collapsible frame for concrete construction.



J. 0. ELLINGER. GOLLAPSIBLE FRAME FOR CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1911.

- WIT NESSES v a w 0M COLUMBIA LANOGRAPH C0.,WASHINGTON. D. c.

JULIAN O. ELLINGER, OF NEl V YQRK, N. Y.

COLLAT-SIBLE FRAME FOB CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Apr. 28, 18 14.

Application filed. November 23, 1911. Serial No. 661,876.

To all 107mm '1' t may concern 3e it known that I, JULIAN O. Enmxenn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Frames for Concrete Construction, of which the follow ing is a specificationv This invention relates to reinforcements for concrete beams, girders etc. and consists of the peculiarities of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts disclosed by the accompanying drawings and the following description.

"he objects or purposes of the invention and its advantages will fully appear from the following description of the form thereof selected to exemplify the best embodiment thereof known to me, but, as will hereinafter more fully appear, changes in the details may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or its scope as defined by the subjoined claims.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a concrete reinforcing frame exemplifying a very desirable form of my present invention; showing in dotted outline the frame folded or collapsed for transportation or storage and in full lines said frame expanded for use. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the reinforcement expanded for use. Fig. 3 is a vertical section througl'i the reinforcement showing the same on a. larger scale than the preceding figures and in position in a form, the line of section upon which the reinforcement is taken being indicated at 33 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an end view of the reinforcement, collapsed. Fig. 5 is a detail representation showing a means for connecting a link and a stop or centering device to a longitudinal member of the reinforcement, different from that disclosed in the preceding figures and Fig. (l is an inverted plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 5.

Similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views.

The reinforcement constituting the present invention comprises a frame A composed of spaced longitudinal members which are connected with each other by transverse members pivoted. to permit the frame to be collapsed for convenience in transportation and storage and expanded for use. In the particular embodiment of the invention herein illustrated to exemplify a most desirable form thereof one of the longitudinal members, marked 20, is continuous throughout the length of the frame, while the other comprises two sections 21 and 22 respectively, which are spaced from each other and from the member 20, a third member or section 23 being in such case preferably so disposed that it will span the space between the confronting ends of the sections 21 and 22 and lie between the planes of the latter sections and the member 20.

The pivoted transverse elements of the frame in the hereinillustrated embodiment of the invention comprise two series of spaced-apart links marked 24 and 25 respectively, the series of links 24t serving to connect the longitudinal section 21 with the member 20 while the series of links 25 connect the longitudinal section 22 with said member 20. Preferably, when the frame is expanded for use the links are inclined or diagonally disposed and preferably also the series of links 24 are inclined or diagonally arranged oppositely to the series of links 25, as shown. It further is consid ered to be preferable to have the sections 21 and 22 extending to a place outward beyond the ends of the member 20.

A very advantageous manner of connecting the parts consists in pivoting the ends of the links to elements which are weldably united to the longitudinal members of the frame, contradistinguished from pivoting the links directly to the longitudinal members. The elements for connecting the links to the longitudinal members, illustrated in the accompanying drawings consist of arms 26 extending transversely of said members and projecting beyond the surfaces of the same, the links being pivoted to the projecting portions of said arms, as shown at the places marked 27. Certain of these arms also serve to rigidly connect the longitudinal member or section 23 to the member 20, being welded to both of the same.

The welds hereinloefore referred to are referably electric welds and avery desirable form of longitudinal members therefor is illustrated, attention being called to the fact that each of said members is composed of a bar rolled to produce spaced longitudinal ribs 28, 28 thereon, said ribs serving as means by which the arms 26 may be Welded flatwise to the longitudinal members. Other forms of welding projections than the ribs referred to and other forms of arms 26 than flat ones herein referred to may, hwever, be employed if desired.

The foregoing frame may be sufficient in some ca. but in many instances it will be found to be desirable to provide a reinforce meat eonsietii'ig of a plurality of such frames ('(llllltlttttl to each other. This is exemplified in s and 4t, wherein A designates i and another. These frames are i'th each other preferably at botton'i. by links 29 whereby ay be folded together, as shown in Ti lie l inks are preferably connected to the longitiulinal members of the frame by uaeeuT of arms 30, weldably united to said members in the manner already described with reference to the links 2st and 25. The pivots by which the links 29 are. connected to the arm 30 are marked 31. This provides a very desirable construction of reinforcement, the two frames connected in the man nor described forming a hollow skeleton re inl'm'cement having longitudinal members which are connected together on all sides of the reinforcement by pivoted transverse elements which are adapted to permit the longitudinal members to move relatively to each other into or from a compactly collapsed condition.

It will be noted that the foregoing construction. constitutes a very desirable embodiment f a concrete reinforcement having s vaced longitudinal elements forming tension members which are connected to each other by spaced transverse elements, formingshear members, in such a manner that the frame may be collapsed into small com pass for transportiiition and storage and readily opened out into its expanded form for use.

Particularly should it be noted that in the particular eu'ibodiment herein illustrated the two sections 21 and 22 of one of the longitu dinal members move toward each other as well as toward the member in collapsing the frame so that when the frame. is collapsed in the sections 21 and 22 lie against or ad jacent to the member or section 23 throughout a part of their length, whereby when the frame is collapsed it is reduced both longitudinally and transversely as compared with its longitudinal and transverse dimensions when it is expanded. Preferably the extent of the movement of the sections 21 and 22 toi rard each other is such that when the frame collapsed the outer ends of the sec tions 21 and 22 will not project beyond the ends of the member 20.

it further will. be noted that the illustrated manner of connecting the links to the longitudinal members contributes to the formation of an economically produced and strong and durable fri me; and again it will be particularly noted that an especially effective re :iuforcemem; is produced by the use of the connected frames and that by pivotally connecting the longitudinal members of each frame with each other and pivotally connecting the. frames themselves with each other substantially in. the manner hereinbefore set forth, a very effective reinforcement is produced which may be folded in intersecting planes, tirst to bring the longitudinal members of each of two sides thereof close to each other and, second, to bring said two sides together.

it obviously is preferable in practice to provide 11 cans which define the position of the parts when the frame is properly expanded and will prevent their being moved beyond such position by any force applied thereto. This may be aecon'iplished in. any approved manner or by any approved means. The means herein shown for the purpose comprise stops and 33 on the member 23 arranged to engage the links 2st and 25 respcctively.

in Fig. 3 there is shown a reinforcement of the construction hereinbefore described mounted in a form C for a beam or girder. In addition to the elements already described the reinforcement will be seen to be provided with stops or centering devices having members 3 t and arranged at an angle with each other. The members 3 trest upon the bottom of the form and the members 35 engage the inner walls of the form. These stops or centering devices thereby define the Position of the reinforcement in the form and hold it in. proper position while the concrete is being supplied. and is setting around the reinforcement. Each of these stops or centering devices is in'eferably of l form and each may be weldably united to the ad jaeent longitudinal member, as shown best in l 3, in which the bars 20, 20 are shown as being provided with welding projections 36 whereby the stops or centering devices may be electrically welded thereto. In Figs. and (3. however. there is shown a stop or centering device which is pi votally mounted so that it may be turned to occupy a plane parallel with the bar when the frame is collapsed. The men'ibers of this stop or centering device are marked 3% and respectively and they are shown as being pivoted at 3t to an arm Fwhich is electrically welded to the longitudinal members 20, the latter being provided with welding ribs 20 as shown. In this particular embodiment of the invention the arm 35" is formed integral. with and projects angularly from an arm 26 which serves the means by which the links 24L or are connected to the members 20. 21 or 22.

Having now described the invention what I believe to be new and desire to secure by Letters Patent and waat I, therefore, claim is 1. A concrete reinforcing frame, com

prising a longitudinal member, sections extending longitudinally of the frame, two of said sections being arranged at opposite sides of the center of said longitudinal member and being provided with links for pivotally connecting them to the latter and another of said sections being arranged between the first mentioned sections and substantially parallel with and adjacent to the longitudinal member and in position to span the space which is between the confronting ends of the other sections when the frame is ex 'ianded.

2. A concrete reinforcing frame, comprising a longitudinal member, sections extending longitudinally of the frame, two of said sections being arranged at opposite sides of the center of said longitudinal member and being provided with links for pivotally connecting them to the latter and another of said sections being arranged between the first mentioned sections and the longitudinal member and in position to span the space which is between the confronting ends of the other sections when the frame is expanded, said third section being rigidly connected to said longitudinal member and the links bein so disposed that they will extend divergently from said longitudinal member to the respective sections when the frame is expanded.

A concrete reinforcing frame comprising a longitudinal member, sections extending longitudinally of the frame and arranged at opposite sides of the center of said member, links having pivot connections with said member and sections, whereby the frame may be expanded, and fixed stops secured to the longitudinal member for holdliuks for connecting the first named sections with said longitudinal member, said links having their ends pivotally secured to the projecting portions of said elements.

(5. 2r collapsible concrete reinforcing frame, comprising a longitudinal member, sections extending longitudinally of the frame and arranged at opposite sides of the center of said member, links pivotally conuecting said sections to said member, and centering devices pivotally connected to one side of said member to be turned from position transverse to and. parallel with the longitudinal member for the purposes described.

7, A collapsible concrete reinforcing flame, comprising a longitudinal member, sections extending longitudinally of the frame and arranged atopposite sides of the center of said member, links connecting said sections to said member, and centering devices pivotally connected to said member,

ich of said centering devices having memiers which extend approximately at right angles with each other, the centering devices being pivoted to the underside of the longi tudinal member to adapt them to be turned into the line of the latter.

8. A concrete reinforcement comprising a pair of frames, each comprising a plurality of longitudinal members having elements rigidly united thereto and projecting therefrom at an angle with each other, links pivotally connecting the members of the frames with each other and other links pivotally connecting the frames together, the latter links being arranged at an angle to the first mentioned links, all of said links having their ends pivoted to the projecting ing the frame in an expanded position. ends of said elements.

4e. 31 concrete reinforcing frame, com- 9. A. concrete reinforcement, comprising a prising a longitudinal member, sections explurality of frames; each of said frames tending longitudinally of the frame and arranged at opposite sides of the center of said member, links having pivotal connection with said member and sections, whereby the frame may be expanded, and a section which extends longitudinally of the frame and is arranged parallel to and alongside of said member and between the same and said sections and is provided with stops arranged to be engaged by certain of said links to hold the frame in an expanded position.

5. A concrete reinforcing frame, comprising a longitudinal member; sections extending longitudinally of the frame and arrangedat opposite sides of the center of said member, spaced elements rigidly secured to said sections and member. respectively and projecting therefrom, a third sect' m extending longitudinally of the frame, said third section being arranged alongside of said longitudinal member and between the same and the first-mentioned sections and being rigidly connected to said member, and

having a longitudinal member, a plurality of sections extending longitudinally of the frame and arranged at opposite sides of the center of the longitudinal member, and links pivotally connecting said longitudinal member and sections together, and a section which extends longitudinally of the frames and is rigidly connected to said longitudinal member between the same and said sections; the reinforcement also having links which connect the frames with each other.

10. A concrete reinforcement, comprising a plurality of frames; each of said frames having a longitudinal member, provided with projections rigidly secured thereto, a plurality of sections pro ided with projections rigidly secured thereto extending longitudinally of the frame and arranged at opposite sides of the center of the longitudinal. member, and links pivotally connecting said sections to the longitudinal member, said links having their ends pivoted to projections of said member and of the sections,

the reinforcenimt also having links Which sections, and a section which extends longiconnect the frames With each other, the lattndinnlly of the frame and is arranged betor links being pivoted to projections of the tween the longitudinal member and said sections and the projections on the member sections and is rigidly secured to projections of en ch of the frames. of the former; the reinforcement also having 11. A concrete reinforcement, comprising links Which connect the frames with each a plurality of fran'ies; each of said frames other, the latter links being pivoted to prohaviing' a longitudinal member, provided jections of the first named sections and the 25 members of the frames.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto my hand at the borough of Mnnhattan, city and State of New York, this 6th day of li'ovember, 1911.

JULIAN O. ELLINGER.

in presence ofwith projections rigidly secured thereto, a plurality of sections provided with projections rigidly secured thereto extending longitudinally of the frame and arranged at opposite sides of the center of the longitudinal member, and links pivotally con necting said sections to the longitudinal member, said links having their ends pivoted JOHN J. RANOGAN,

to projections of said member and of the ISABEL R. RICHARDS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. 0.

Commissioner of Patents, 

